👀 Why Rene Gonzalez is suing Portland

🏛️ Elana Pirtle-Guiney Elected City Council President

The District 2 councilor was elected after a lengthy 10-round voting process to break a deadlock. Pirtle-Guiney is a former political consultant with state government experience and was considered a “compromise” candidate between District 1 progressive Candace Avalos and District 4 councilor Olivia Clark, who’s been a longtime favorite with the business community. [Willamette Week]

👋 Outgoing Commissioner Gonzalez Sues City

Former Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez filed a tort claim against the city just days before leaving office, alleging it failed to provide public officials with adequate protection from threats, including an alleged arson outside his home last year. Gonzalez is also seeking reimbursement for damages from the incident that destroyed his father’s car. [OPB]

💸 City Budget Shortfall Could Be Worst in Decades

Portland’s new mayor and city council are beginning their tenure with a projected $27 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year, thanks to rising labor costs and the expiration of $40 million in one-time program funding. Officials say the shortfall could balloon to over $70 million by the time a new budget proposal drops in May. [Willamette Week]

🎱 Predicting the Top Portland Headlines in 2025

What’s ahead for Portland in 2025? The City Cast Portland team explores the Trump administration’s impact on Oregon, what to expect from the new city government, and what we’re looking forward to this year. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Our last photo trivia of 2024 was the famous “Santa Clones” from artist Chris Willis, who has been dropping the vintage plastic figures in secret locations around Portland since 2010 and sharing clues to their location on social media. This year they landed in the former Paulsen’s Pharmacy at 4246 NE Sandy Blvd.

Paulsen’s Pharmacy was the basis for one of the locations featured in the “Ramona Quimby” children’s books — the historic soda fountain sadly closed during the pandemic.

“It’s a holiday tradition for my daughter and I to find them each year,” said Brian Finlayson.

🎅 And shoutout to readers Steven Ogilvie, Eric M. Crowl, Mariana Clark, John Maher, Audrey Zunkel-deCoursey, and Phil Hochstelter, for guessing correctly!

We’re kicking off the new year with a tropical scavenger hunt:

Where is this tropical oasis mural? Hint: it’s indoors. Send us your guesses!

Want to submit a photo? Send us a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming Where Is It? segment!